Because they failed to trust God after having heard the ten spies’ negative report about Canaan, God requires the Israelites to wander for 40 years. Until every disbelieving person aged twenty or older had passed away. This forty year period began retroactively on the day Israel left Egypt, the 15th day of the 1st month of the 1st year, according to the Hebrew calendar, as well as the first day after the first Passover. The 40 years lasted until the 1st Passover in the Promised Land. The 14th day of the 1st month of the 41st year (Joshua 5:10). The wilderness record in Scripture covers approximately the 1st year and 8 months of this 40 year period, as well as the last year of the journey. The intervening 37 years and four month constitutes a period of silence. Dates are included for key events, so a fairly complete timeline for the beginning and the end of the wilderness wandering period can be calculated. During the 1st month the Israelites traveled from Egypt to the Desert of Sin. They then spent the next month traveling to Mount Sinai, where they stayed for the next 11 months. From Mount Sinai they traveled about a month until they reached Kadesh Barnea, where they spent about 6 months being rebellious in one form or another. After they departed from Kadesh there next 37 years and 4 months is unknown. After this period of silence they return close to Kadesh and during the last year make their way north west forging ahead to the Promised land via the Transjordan way.